Shadow custom problem

[StevenR]

I had the exact same thing happen with my P-06, but with magtech ammo and with umc.  cleaned and lightly polished the breech face, also cleaned around the extractor seemed to help.  Kinda feel like it might be the extractor.  Good luck!

[double pedro]

hk_mbtr - Let me second what others have already mentioned...remove and clean the extractor and extractor channel every 1000 rounds or so (you can try going longer if you don't have any problems).  Also, make sure the rest of the pistol is clean and well-lubed (especially the rails).  When my Shadow (10 lb recoil spring, 128 PF 147 gr FMJ loads) gets too dirty (300 rounds or so), I can feel the slide cycle more slowly (it starts to feel "chunky" instead of snappy).  With hotter ammo or a stiffer recoil spring, it may not be apparent.  If you are running with a similar set-up (light recoil spring and soft ammo), you may run into feeding issues if your pistol is not clean and well-lubed.   

[hk_mtbr]

Thanks for the posts...I didn't get a chance last night to check over all the suggested points on the shadow.

I plan to get to it this weekend and hopefully get to the bottom of it.

I can see where the ammo could be at fault - this is basically the crappiest stuff available - but it WAS available. I have the dies for 9mm but haven't got that press setup yet. I've been learning to load on 45 first.

How will I know if the tension is right on the extractor?

Any problems putting a dab of loctite on the grip screw? Now it won't stay tight for more than a couple mags or so.

[Stuart]

actually I like the idea of trying a different ammo.
possible the case head of the UMC brass is slightly bigger than others.

anyway..good luck..I think we all want to see this fixed.

[junkit]

+1 on what Jay1958 said.

Try some hotter ammo for awhile. The  S&B is good stuff if you can find it.

[pitbull]

A small drop of the purple (Low Strength) Loctite will hold your grip screws and still be removable when you want.

[hk_mtbr]

I'm going to go with the "change ammo" and "clean the thing" answers...

I give it a really good cleaning. There was a bunch of gunk behind the extractor that I thought I got...but was wrong.

Also I made sure to use plenty of slide glide...the "reversed" rails made me think a bit - but went with grease the shiny parts theory.

I have enough Speer ammo (which I know runs) to get me through a club match on Sunday so we'll see. This isn't the best plan but have no other chance between now and then   If all else fails Sunday will get me more practice on my clearing drills.

Will let you guys know...thanks!

[nitzer]

My non-Shadow SP-01 Tactical did about the same thing.  I ran 500 rounds through it with no problems.  Then all of a sudden I was in my USPSA matches and it would dump a live round in the chamber and the only way to clear it was to dump the mag and cycle the slide.  It did that to me for weeks before I realized I started having all of the failures when I ran out of the Geco 124gr. rounds I was shooting and switched over to 115gr. WWB rounds.  Someone told my the Geco rounds were decently hot rounds whereas the WWB's aren't.  I switched out the 18lb. recoil spring down to a 16 and my problems went away.  I also noticed that when I was unloading my mags, the rounds weren't popping up smoothly.  After cleaning my mags that problem went away too.  I got into the habit of cleaning my mags the night before a shoot.  I recently used my SP-01 in my CCW shoot in the snow and it ran great.  I haven't had any issues now in quite some time.

[pitbull]

Good luck at your club match on Sunday. I hope you solved your problem. Let us know how things go.

[hk_mtbr]

UPDATE: I went to local USPSA match with an old buddy. I've been trying to get him to try it for a while so I couldn't say my gun was funky when he said he wanted to go to this match.

At match...first course of fire - first mag...jam! I think Addict was yelling JAM somewhere behind me. I clear it and keep on going through the course with no more hiccups, but I was bummed. When I got done and started re-loading mags I noticed, what I thought was a fresh box of Speer - was actually a mixed box of bench ammo (you know the extra rounds that tend to collect on the bench)...and...some UMC mixed in. I sorted all those out and made sure that I was loading only speer the rest of the match and NO failures of any kind.

I'm going to call this one solved as ammo related.

And, to that end, I'll be buying the loading supplies this week for 9mm. Rob told me what Angus' load was when I bought the shadow but I forgot exactly..VV320 and 124 JHP were the main items...this is good 'cause I load vv320 for 45 already.

Thanks to all again...match results not in yet by the way...

[Addict]

Glad things cleared up HK_mtbr! I was filming and Mr. Spanks was letting you know about the malf. on the first stage. That recipe Angus uses was moved from the Ask Angus forum to CZF Ammunition as I recall.... Should be a few pages deep. What is your 320 load in .45? The stuff I have been using is dirty as all get out. USPSA Lady should have your video chopped together and posted on the MRPC forum in the Practical Pistol area in the next day or two. Hope "M" had a good time and comes back for more fun!!!
Addict

[hk_mtbr]

Addict - 4.9 VV320 seems to be right for my wilson...YMMV

Today I ordered some speer brass and some 124 CMJ's...I couldn't find JHP's but figured this will do fine. I'm not totally certain about the speer brass but figured since I found it once fired I'd buy a 1000...I figure it is more likely just inconsistent UMC loads. I already have a few # of VV320 so I can hit the ground running.

[pitbull]

hk_mtbr,

Nice to see you've got things under control. Now that you narrowed your problem down to the ammo you can stay away from the faulty stuff. Good shooting.